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The day dawned bright with no rain so ideal conditions for walking and after
breakfast in the lodge we started the 15 mile hike to our next stopover taking
in High Hunsley beacon on the way. The path splits on the approach to Market
Weighton and as we were to camp to the North of the town we chose to take the
old disused railway path and pick up supplies in town before reaching our
destination. Market Weighton is mentioned in the doomsday book of 1086, in those
days a collection of 15 villages and 117 farms having a value of £30. In the
local pub where we had our evening meal a gentlemen from “Walkers Welcome” gave
us lots of information about the town which is the home of the “Yorkshire Giant”
William Bradley (1787-1820). One of 13 children he weighed 14lbs at birth and
attained the height of 7ft 9 inches and remains the tallest Englishman in the
Guinness book of records to this day. Having amassed a fortune travelling the
country in freak shows he succumbed to tuberculosis at the early age of 33. A
Yorkshire giant trail can be followed round town following his giant footprints
(one of which can be seen in the photographs for this section). The town is also
famous for its sheep market which was once reputed to have “sold 70,000 animals
in one day” (well worth spending a little time to look round)
Off again
on day 2
This type
of seat can be found at viewpoints all along the route
We meet up
with a man who seems to know the history of the area and is looking for an
ancient spring
A most
unusual gate (probably for taking livestock through?)
A typical
Wolds valley
Note the
“streaks” on the field where heavy rain had washed out all the seed potatoes
High
Hunsley beacon
A welcome
lunch break
This one is
just for Karen!!
St Helen's
well – one of only a handful in the country which still run even in times of
drought
One is
supposed to leave a “gift” on the tree and make a wish
The statue
of the Yorkshire Giant William Bradley
The plaque
shows the actual size of his foot . . .
which is
probably larger than mine and Eric’s combined
Our home
for the night
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